Car-couplii



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. W. HOLLAND.

N. PETERS, Phnlvunmnphcr. washington. D. C.

9m t e du h S Lw e e h S 2 D. N .A L L 0 H W. d. d o M 0 mV GARGOUPLING.

No. 307,391. Patented ont. 28, 1384.

rnv Wfl [n vih for Nrrnn Sratrns Paritair Ormea.

VILLIAM HOLLAND, OF LONGMON'I, COLORADO.

cAaQoooPLine.

ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,391, dated October28,1884.

Application filed June 2, 1884.

To o7/Z whom '25 may concern;

Iic it known that I, WILLIAM HOLLAND, a

4citizen of the. United States, and a resident. of

Longmont, in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Car Couplings; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, anderact'description of the invention, which will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic railway-car couplings,in which the draw-bar is adapted to adjust itself relative totheposition of the cars, and the tension brought upon the same turningcurves, and coupling to cars of varied heights; and the objects of myinvention are to provide a coupling by which cars may be coupled as wellat an angle of forty-five degrees as upon a straight track,self-adjusting, perfect in operation, convenient, and strong. Theseobjects I attain by means ofthe devices illustrated bythe accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is atop view of coupler and drawbar; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view ofpart of coupling and draw-bar, Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view of partof coupling; Fig. 4, a perspective side and end view; Fig. 5, aperspective end view of car having coupler attached thereto.

A in the drawings refers to a car-bod y, towhich the coupler may beattached in any suitable manner.

The draw-bar is constructed in sucha manner as to be retained in a fixedposition normally, but in the event of heavy pressure being brought tobear upon the same in turning short curves, or being coupled to cars ofvaried heights, the draw-bar is adapted to adjust itself relative to theposition of the cars, or the pressure broughtto bear upon the same. Thisfeature of my invention I prefer to carry out in the manner shown in theaccompanying drawings, where it will be seen that beneath the end of thecar is attached a rack or frame composed of the side pieces, B, theupper ends of which are attached to the car-body by means of bolts. Tothelower ends ofthe bars B, 4

(No model.)

is attached a stationary bar, b. In the side bars, B, are made slots b,in which operatethe ends of a cross-bar, C, upon which rests thedraw-bar. The same is retained against the under side of the draw-bar bymeans of the springs C,which rest upon the cross-bar b.

The draw-bar is composed of the side pieces, a and a, and the bottom dand the top d, in which is placed a plunger, D,which fits neatly withinthe casing of the draw-bar, in the front part of which is formed areceptacle for a coupling-link, E, the opposite end of which is maderound, and is passed through the spring It and through the cross-bar F,and is provided with a key or nut, F2, which prevents it from slidingforward beyond the end of the draw-bar. The spring 7c has atendency toretain the plunger forward in the draw-bar, which is the normal positionthereof. The link E is of the form shown in Fig. 5, and its neatly inthe front end of the plunger, and when placed therein, as shown in Fig.2, is in the proper position to meet and enter into the relative plungersituated in the draw-bar upon the ear which it is desired to couplewith. To the side of the draw-bar is attached a bracket, L, containing aspring, Z, through which passes a bolt, llI, having afiiXed thereto anut, m, against which the spring Z presses, forcing the bolt intocontact with the plunger, and into the recess Z2, situated in theplunger D. The rear end of the draw-bar is permanently attached to afollower, II, which is shown in its normal position in Figs. 1 and 4,where it will be seen that the follower II is fitted Within a hanger, H.The latter is permanently attached to the bottom of the car by means ofbolts h, and 4which is attached to a similar hanger, I-Il, by means ofbars I. The hanger II2 is also att-ached to the bottom of the car bymeans of bolts. The hangers H and II2 and the bars I form a frame-Work,in which I arrange a systemof springs which impart elasticity to thelateral movement of the draw-bars, as well as permitting transverse anddownward movement of the front part of the draw-bar when the strain putupon the same has such tendency. The arrangement of the springs isclearly shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, where it will be seen that platesfand i', having IOO projectionsf" thereon, are made to fit within thebars I, the latter forming guides for their lateral movement. Springs Jextend from the plates to the plates i', and are retained in place bymeans of the projections i2. The springs J retain the plates t' and i incontact with the hangers H and H2,when in normal position, as shown inFig. l. To the bolt M is attached a rod, N, which connects with a rod,N', which is hinged to the car-body, and has a handlever, N2, afxed toits lower end, and a handwheel, n, attached to the upper end thereof.Upon the top of the forward end of the drawbar is affixed a standard, P,turned forward at the top, and provided with a recess, in which theupper end of the coupling-pin l? operates, the lower end ofwhichoperates in holes formed in the top and bottom casings of the draw-bar.In the coupling-pin l? is a recess, Q, in which operates the end of alever, P2, which is fulcrumed at l?3 to the car-body, to the oppositeend of which is attached a bar, R, which is hinged by means of the bar rto the rod S. The latter is provided at the upper end with a handwheel,S', and with a hand-lever, a, at the lower end thereof. The draw-bar iscoupled to the opposite end of the frame containing the springs J bymeans of a bar, T, having keys t through the ends thereof.

In the operation of my invention the different parts thereof having beenadjusted as hereinbeforfe described, the coupling-link is placed withinthe receptacle therefor made in the forward end of the plunger D, asshown in Fig. 2,'which completes the adjustment of the coupling, placingthe same in position to be attached to a corresponding draw-bar inanother car. Vhen two cars provided with my improvements are broughttogether, as will be seen, the purpose of the plunger D is to receiveand retain the link in proper position to engage with the draw-bar ofthe opposite car. When brought in contact therewith, the plungers D areforced backward within the draw-bars until the bolts M are forced intovthe recesses Z, which retain the plungers D a suflicient distanceinward from the forward ends of the draw-bars to allow thecoupling-links adequate play. Vhen the plungers D in their coursebackward Within the draw-bars pass the openings in which thecoupling-pins l? are retained, the latter are `dropped down through theopenings in the -dr'aw-bar, pressing backward against the plate @towhich one end of the springsJ are attached, which avoids severe jars.The springs and draw-bar may be so constructed as to weight and strengthas to answer all the purposes of bumpers. Vhe-n heavy tension is broughtupon the draw-bars the strain is also placed upon the springs J by meansof the connection of the draw-bars with the rear followers H, by meansof the bar T, which is drawn forward, as shown in Fig. 2, compressingthe springs J between the plates t' and i',

\Which averts sudden jar and has a tendency to prevent breaking ofcoupling-pins.

ln turning curves the draw-bars adapt themselves to the position of thecars, owing to the space allowed at either side thereof at the forwardends between the same and the bars B, the attachmentof the draw-bars tothe springs J being such as to admit of the transverse movement of theforward ends of the draw-bars. The arrangement of the springs C underthe forward ends of the draw-bars admits of their adapting themselves tocars having their draw-bars lower than others.

The plungers may be retained within the draw-bars a proper distance fromthe forward ends of the latter permanently by means of 9o the bolt M, ormay be released at will by means of the hand-lever N 2 or thehand-.wheel a, and their relative connections attached to the car, asshown in Fig. 5, which will admit of the plungers D resuming theirnormal positions, owing to the forward pressure of the springs lo,mounted upon the rear portions thereof.

The coupling-pins may be removed from in connection with thecoupling-links E by means of the hand-lever O or the hand-wheel S withtheir relative connections with the couplingpins l), as shown in Fig. 5.

l am aware of the use of draw-bars having spring-connections. Such,however, I do not claim, broadly; but the peculiar construction ofcouplings containing plungers within the IOO draw-bars adapted toreceive and retain the IIO in the draw-bars and retained in a positionto allow full play to the coupling-links, and the adjustment of thedraw-bar to admit of lateral, transverse, and downward movement of theforward end thereof', and adapted to connect cars in such a manner as toplace the draft a suitable distance inward from the ends thereof, iswhat constitutes my improvements.

Having thus fully set'forth the construction, application, and use of myimprovements, what l claim as new, anddesire to secure by LettersPatent, is.

1. Thehereinbefore-describedcoupling,composed, substantially, of adraw-bar having encased therein the plunger D, in which is formed arecess, Z2, the spring k, and cross-bar F, the hangers H and H2, thefollowers H, the plates fiandi, having extension parts i2, formedthereon, the springs J, the bar T, and keys t, the brace L, attachedtothe side of the draw-bar, retaining the bolt M in-contact with theplunger, the spring l, the bars B, I), and G, containing the springs C',the coupling-link E, the standard P, and coupling-pin P, all operatingtogether as described and specified, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a car coupling, and in combination with a plunger provided with arecess for the coupling-link, and having a shank, k, of smaller diameterthan the body of the plunger, a draw-head consisting of the bar a (ofand d d, between which the plunger has a sliding movement, and thecross-bar F, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The plunger D, having a recess in the forward end thereof, asdescribed, and the recess Z2, made in the side thereof to receive thebolt M, and having the rear portion formed as described, carrying theyspring 7c, and provided with a recess to receive the key F2.

4. In a car-coupling, and in combination with a draw-head, as described,a plunger having a sliding movement within the draw-head,

and provided with a V-shaped recess adapted to receive one end ofacorrespondingly-shaped coupling-link, a follower, H, as described, across-bar, F, and a spring, 7c, coiled around the shank ofthe plunger,to bear against the cross-bar, as herein set forth.

The combination,with the draw-bar having the plunger D incased therein,provided with a recess, Zl, in the side thereof, as set forth, of thebolt M, having the spring Z, mounted thereon, the brace L, the nut m,the rod N, the bar N, the hand-lever N2, and hand-wheel ln, whereby theplunger is retained within the draw-bar to provide play-room for thecouplinglink and for releasing the same.

6. The combination, with the draw-bar incasing the plunger therein,containing a receptacle for one end of a couplinglink, of thecoupling-pin P,the standard P, the lever Pthe rod r, and the bar S,attached thereto, where by the coupling-pin may be raised to disengageone car from another.

7. In a railway-car coupling, the frame consisting of the hangers H andH2, attached to the car-body, and the bars I, by which the hangers areretained a suitable distance apart.

S. The combination, with the frame cornposed of the hangers I-I and H2and the bars I, of the followers I-I, and the plates@l and t', fittedwithin the bars I, and having the extension parts i2, affixed thereto,the springs J, andthe bar T, retained in place by the key t, asdescribed and specified.

9. The combination,with the hangers H and H2, of the bars I, the springJ, the plates i and t', having the extension parts i2 thereon, the barT, and keys t, the draw-bar containing the cross-bar F, the spring 7i',and the plunger D, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix iny signature iu presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM HOLLAND.

Vi tnesses: Gno. GAY,

A. J. OBRIEN.

